What is Minimalism?

“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” – Joshua Becker

In the past few months, I have really gotten into minimalism. I never knew that much about it but after learning the meaning behind it, it really resonated with me. There was a moment when I realized I had attained everything I wanted materially, but I still wasn’t happy. And when I was really honest with myself, I realized I was doing it more to impress other people instead of living the way that was consistent to what I wanted.

“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” – Dave Ramsey

So with this in mind, I got rid of fifty percent of my belongings, and moved into a studio apartment. And I was finally free! Free from what people thought about me. Free from worrying about finances. Free from feeling overwhelmed about having to constantly clean my place. And free from feeling society’s pressure to live a certain way. I was able to focus on what I really wanted in life and live it my way. I was actually happier with less stuff!

In our culture we are taught that the more we have, the happier we will be. Advertisements trick us into thinking we need something we don’t have. Or that we have to have the latest and the greatest in order to be happy. We are taught that life is about owning a bigger house, a nicer car, and wearing the best name brands.

We really need to question this way of living. These are constructs that don’t actually have any truth behind them. Studies show time and time again that rich people are not necessarily happy and there are people with hardly anything who are much happier.

What do you think of when you hear the word Minimalism?

Usually the first thing that comes into people’s minds is that minimalism is about owning the bare minimum and living very simply. But minimalism is much more than that. There has to be intention behind it. It’s about questioning what things add value to our lives. Getting rid of the physical and mental clutter and having more time to spend it on the people we care about, our passions, our health and giving back to society.

And of course, there isn’t anything wrong with owning things, it’s just about being mindful and conscious about why we want certain things. You might want a big house because you truly enjoy having a space for entertaining your guests because that is what makes you happy. Intention is key.

So, what is Minimalism then?

I would break it down to:

• Living intentionally, mindfully and consciously. Pause for a moment before you go to the checkout counter – Do I really need this?
• Keeping your priorities straight and in line with who you want to be.
• Questioning society’s norms, and listening to that little voice inside you, regardless of what you think is acceptable.
• Not being attached to things materially. Even if you lose everything you’ve got, you are still you.
• Quality over quantity.

There are many levels of minimalism, from extreme (only owning 100 items or less), to moderate (maybe you don’t like stark white walls, but still want a cozy and decorated home). Minimalism will be different for each person depending on their stage in life. But the end result is that you are left with more time, more money and more freedom to focus on things that really matter to you.

How do you think a minimalist lifestyle would benefit you? Let me know in the comments below or send me an email at lessoftheexcess at gmail dot com.

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